Sectional toy figure



Dec. 15, 1953 G. H. cALvERLEY sEcTIoNAL Toy FIGURE 2 shee'is-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 19, 1950 650265 C274. VE'eAL-Y rmn, ma Zv-hm Gttornegs Dec. 15, 1953 G. H. cALvERLEY 2,662,335

SECTIONAI.. TOY FIGURE Filed Jan. 19, 41950 2 Sheets-Shes?l 2 y :inventor G5026: H. CAL me45-V ""/v ma, Mfm

Gttomegs Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF 2,662,335 IC E SECTIONAL TOY FIGURE George H.- Calverley, Racine, Wis., assgnor to Whitman Publishing Company, Racine, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application January 19,1950, Serial No. 139,339

8' Claims.

This invention relates to improvements iny sectional toy figures having interengageable construction pieces.

It is an object of theinvention. to improve upon the type of toy described by Main and Smelzer in their United States Patent No. 1,746,839. In this connection it is an object of the invention to providel av set of toy or doll building. pieces comprisingl bodies, heads, limbs, feet, and. connecting elements of an improved form which may be interchangeably interconnected'. to build an increased variety of. doll gures representing human beings, animals, birds and the like.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide the set with pieces having improved joints for their detachable and articulate interconnection. The improved joints include an im.- proved. andi novel socket in the body piece for its interconnection with. similarly improved and novel connecting elements providing a base upon which the remaining pieces may be attached; and an improved joint between these connecting. elements and. the limb elements connected thereto andto each other.

A. specific object of the invention is to provide a` sectional toy figure. having an elongated body with a transverse bore'r or socket at one end of the body and opening at the. sides and end of. the body. This transverse bore is disposed to receive al cylindrical connective piece having oiset ball portions carried on reduced neck portions which project from the body for articulate interconnection with limb' pieces when the connectivepiece is properly seated.

A. further specifi-c object of the' invention is to provide a sectional toy figure comprising interconnecting` pieces, certain of. which are provided wi-thprojecting balls, with a limb piece having an improved axial socket. with walls of less. curvature than the ball to embrace the ball in point contact. In thisv manner the joint is more freely articulatey in. a plana transverse to the axis den-ned by the points than in a plane including the- Another objectV is to provide the limb socket with shouldering elements which. insure a positive positioning of the interconnected. ball, requiring spreading, of the walls to disconnect the ballfromthe socket.

Another object of they invention is. to increase the versatility of use. of the various pieces in order that a largeI variety of iigures may be selectively constructedr with a relatively small number ofpieces.`

Other objects will be more apparent to one skilled in. the art upon. an examination of the following disclosure.

In the drawings:

Fig. l i's a iront view of one type of figure representing a human being' which may be constructed with the various pieces oi thev set.

Fig; 2`A is a side view of the` same ligure with 2 portions broken away and shown in section to illustratointerconnection details.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary' sidel view of the same iig-ureshowing the connectivev link betweenthe body andv legs swung to a position suitable for the figure to assume a seated position.

Fig. 4- is a side view of. another type of figure representingl an animal which may be constructed with the various pieces' of the set..

Fig. 5 is a side view of still another type of figure representing a bird, with' portions broken away' and shown in cross section, which may be constructed. with thev various pieces of the iigure building set.

Fig. 6 is a side view partly in axial cross section showing the tubular connector of Fig. 17 used to connect two limb elements- Fig. '7 is aI perspective view of a limb element showing a novel socket.

Fig. 8 is a side view of thelimb element partially in axial cross section taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7, a fragment of an interconnected ball being illustrated.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view taken' along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8. y

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of the: limb element taken along. the line Hl-l' of Fig. 8, the ball being removed'.

Fig; 11 is a side view ofthe limb element, par.-

Ytially in a-Xial cross section takenA along they lines II-II of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a perspective' view of a head'y piece representing a human face.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a head. piece representing a bird.

Fig. 14 is a4 perspectivev view olf' a head piece representing ananimal.

Fig. 15` is a perspectivel view ofv one form of body piece.

Fig. I6 is a. perspective view of a modified form oi bodypiece.

Fig. 17 is= a. perspective view of a tubular connective element.

Fig, 18 is aperspective view of a. different form of connective elementl having ball joints offset from. the tubular axis of thev piece.

Fig.. 19' isa perspective view of astill. different form: of. connective element having one ball joint centrally' ois'et and. other ball joints axially aligned ateitherendof the'piece.

Fig.` 20 is: a perspective view of a foot piece.

The iigure buildingI set comprises various qua-ntities of the` several separate pieces shown in sheet 2 in they drawings. These pieces maybe assembled'. into a Variety oi human, animal, bird like and other forms such as are exemplified in sheet 1. of the drawings; The versatility'o-f com'- bination-.andthe interchangeability of the pieces is` such that a wide variety of' simulated: creatures may be assembled from a relatively fewy pieces comprising theset. More pieces of certain types, such as the limb* elements. than of other elements, such as body pieces, will normally be supplied. rEhe invention is not confined to the assembly of creatures having bodies, as the articulate link elements are capable of use apart from the body elements to create novel and interesting arrangements. All pieces are desirably made of resilient material such as plastic resins to facilitate the frictional interconnection of the ball and socket joints to be hereinafter described in more detail.

One of the principal pieces of the toy building set is the elongated body which is desirably supplied in either or both of the forms 25 or 25 shown in Figs. and 16. In either form the body is provided at one end with an axially transverse socket or bore 2l opening at both sides and along the end of the body. As best shown in Fig. 15 the ends 28 and 29 of the body forming the bore walls at one side of socket 2l are relieved at 36 and 3l so as to leave only a centrally disposed unrelieved portion or ridge 32 at one side of the socket 2l. The ridge .t2 has an incurved lip 33 to cooperate with a like lip 3d at the other side of the socket bore for the retention of cylindrical connective pieces engaged therewith. References may be had to the dolls shown in sheet 1 of the drawing wherein the manner of connection is clearly illustrated.

Whereas body is provided with transverse bores 2l at both of its ends, body 25 in Fig. l is transversely bored only at one end, the opposite end being provided with an axial socket or bore 3l'. The exterior of body 29 is tapered toward the outlet of socket 3l' near its top, as shown at 38, to create a different shape of body having a dierent range or" uses than body 25. The application of body 25 toward the building of a bird is shown in Fig. 5.

The various connective pieces shown in Figs. 17-19 may be utilized as intermediate elements or links between the bodies and the limbs through articulate ball and socket joints to be hereinafter described more in detail. For example, as shown in Fig. l, the connective piece 39 may be axially engaged with socket bore 2'! at one end of the body to form a link or base element upon which the legs of the doll may be assembled. The connective piece 4G may be axially engaged with socket bore 2? at the other end of the body 25 to form a connective link or base upon which the arms and head of the doll may be assembled. As best shown in Fig. e, connective piece di@ may be used at both ends of the body 25 in the event an animal form of figure is to be assembled. In any of these applications the connective piece is frictionally held in position in its transverse bore or socket by the coacting sides and lips of the body forming the socket wall.

An additional connective piece 4| is illustrated in Fig. 17 and one oi its uses is illustrated in Fig. 6. This piece, as well as piece 39, is provided at each end with axially aligned internal sockets 2. The sockets are mutually slightly tapered toward the mid-point or" the piece and are desirably separated at the mid-point by a central wall 61S. The sockets receive ball joints frictionally bound therein, and, as shown in Fig. 6, the connective piece [il is primarily useful in interconnecting the limb elements 53 to provide extra length and articulation. It diiers from other links in that having both ends socketed it cooperates with two pieces having terminal balls.

In addition to the axial end sockets 42, connective piece 39 is provided with balls 45 which are supported at axially offset positions upon slightly mutually divergent reduced neck portions 4 48. As best shown in Fig. 1 these cooperate with the socketed ends of limb pieces 53 to form the legs of the doll figure and may be swung into the relieved spaces 30 and 3l of the body 25 in order that-the gure may more realistically assume a seated position, as shown in Fig. 3.

Connective piece 40 is provided with terminal balls 4S, disposed in axial alignment at each end of the piece on reduced neck portions 56. A third ball 4S is axially offset from the piece and is supported on neck portion 5l at right angles to the axis of the piece. V rlhe ball .Ils is normally intended to carry a head piece or tail as shown in Figs. 1 4.

The various balls 55, 49 of the connective pieces provide articulated joint connection .with the socketed ends of the limb pieces 53 of the doll gures shown separately in enlarged scale in Figs. '7-11. Each limb vpiece 53 is provided at one end with a ball 54 which is axially supported from the piece upon a reduced neck portion 55. These balls are standard with the balls 15, 6.9 of the connective pieces 39 and 12.2. The opposite end of the piece is provided with an axial socket indicated generally as 53 which. cooperates with the balls of the various connective pieces and like limb pieces to provide a detachable and articulate joint therebetween.

The socket 53 is formed with oppositely disposed ilat walls 59 spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of the standard size ball to grip the ball periphery at diametrically opposed points thereon. The transverse socket walls are slotted at 6l and 60 and are relieved intermediate the ends of the socket to forni semi-circular openings 62, the inner corners of which act as seats for an interconnected ball. The slot Eil communicates from opening 62 to the socket entrance to provide a channel for relatively free articulation of the ball in a plane transverse to the ball axis between its point contact with the walls 59, and receives the neck portion supporting the ball as shown in Fig. 3. The slot Eil is somewhat narrower and extends inwardly to lengthen the resistant spring arms to more firmly embrace the ball.

The body material forming the edges of the slots 6G and 6i may be considered as flanges mutually extended from each wall 59 toward similar anges on the opposite wall to embrace the ball within a seat defined by the semicircular aperture 62.

Although the socket is preferably molded initially to the indicated shape it may be alternatively described as comprising an axial bore having flat walls b9 and an intersecting lateral bore E2. The socket walls at either side of the lateral bore S2 are slotted or cut away at 6U and 6|. The apices of the intersecting bores and slots, comprising the upper inner corners 64 and lower inner corners 6E- provide shoulders defining the interconnected position of the ball. The relative dimension of the ball is such as to require pressure to spring the resilient socket walls to admit or remove the ball. In actual practice the socket dimensions are made such as to permit slight movement of the ball in its socket with the shoulders dening limiting positions of such movement. However, it is evident that within such limits the ball position is positively dened and is restrained from separation from the socket except upon forcing the walls apart to accommodate withdrawal.

In addition to the seats or shoulders formed by the inner corners 65, the attened side portions Q of the socket terminate at the level of the top of kerf B in an additional arcuate seat or shoulder 53, best shown in Fig. 8, to limit inward reception of the balls. Outward movement of the seated ball is restrained by the corners E4. rllhe seated ball generally accommodates itself within the socket in a position limited by the engagement of the inner edges of the senil-circular apertures 52 and lthe corners te and 65 thereof, with ball surface. The ball is resiliently held in position within the socket and it is necessary to forceably spread the walls 59 and corners by pressure on the inserted ball to insert yor remove the ball respecting the socket. In this manner complete articulation is possible and the resilient pressure tends to hold the parts in adjusted position but the joint is not subject to inadvertent separation.

Articulation of the joint in an axial plane parallel to the flat walls 59 is accomplished by swinging the ball von a transverse pivot comprising the axis of the ball terminating in point pressure contact at the nat walls. Relatively little friction at these point contacts is encountered and the movement is relatively free and easy. Articulation transverse to this plane, however, requires the ball surface to slide in line contact engagement with the side walls 59 with relatively greater friction and less easily induced movement. This novel diierential in articulation may I be achieved with any conguration of ball and socket wall providing for diametrically opposite point contact on one axis. The flat wall arrangement illustrated is preferred. However, any noncomplementary peripheral conguration wherein the curvature of the ball is greater than the wall would be satisfactory.

The selected figure may be completed by adding one of the heads 68, 69 or 10 shown separately in Figs. 12, 13 and 14 and the feet 1| shown separately in Fig. 20. The head pieces and feet are provided with internal tapered sockets 12, 13, I4 and l5 for detachable connection with the balls 49 or 5d of the connective pieces 40 and limb pieces 53 as desired.

As best shown in Fig. 5 the axial bore 31 of the body 26 may receive one of the limb pieces 53, socket rst, to support head 69 as illustrated. In this manner a life-like armless bird or the like may be assembled.

All of the various set pieces may be made of plastic or like material which admits of mass production by die casting or molding operations. A set of a few of each of the elements will provide sucient building material to construct a wide variety of different gures in doll and like toy forms. The pieces are easily assembled and by virtue of the novel articulated positive joint connections the iigures will hold their assembled form in any selected position until disassembled.

I claim:

1. A sectional toy figure comprising the combination with a body and articulate limb elements, said body having a, transverse cylindrical bore opening at the end of the body, portions of the body comprising the walls of the bore being relieved to substantially the lateral depth of the bore, of an intermediate piece providing one element of an articulate joint between the body and certain of the limb elements, said piece comprising a cylinder receivable into the body bore and neck portions extending laterally from the cylinder, said cylinder being rotatable in the bore to permit the neck portions to be swung into the relieved portions of the body, said neck portions carrying balls for articulate connection with another element of the joint comprising a socketed limb.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the relieved portions of the body are formed near the ends of the transverse body bore, an unrelieved body portion being disposed therebetween to provide a bearing for the cylindrical piece.

3. In a sectional toy iigure comprising detachable interconnected members, certain of which comprise cylindrical connective pieces with offset reduced neck portions, an elongated body member having a transverse cylindrical bore, near an end of the body and opening at the sides of the body and at the end of the body, the margins of the end opening comprising mutually spaced facing lips between which the offset neck portion of the connective pieces may be passed during interconnection of the cylindrical piece in the cylindrical body bore, said body portions comprising the bore walls being relieved to substantially the lateral depth of the bore to permit the neck portions of the connective piece to be swung into the relieved portions of the body.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the relieved portions of the body are formed near the ends of the transverse bore, an unrelieved body portion being disposed therebetween to provide a bearing for the cylindrical piece.

5. The device of claim e wherein the body piece 1s provided with a transverse bore and with relieved body portions at each end of the body.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the body is further provided at its end opposite the transverse bore with an axial bore providing a socket for certain cylindrical pieces of the toy.

7. In a sectional `toy gure comprising detachable interconnecting members, the combination with an elongated body having a transverse cylindrical bore near an end of the body and opening at the sides of the body and at the end of the body, the margins of the end opening comprising mutually spaced facing lips, of a cylindrical connective piece receivable in the transverse bore, said cylindrical piece being provided with a reduced neck portion offset from the axis of the piece, said neck portion being slidable between said body lips in the course of manipulating the p1eces into interconnected position.

8. In a sectional toy figure comprising detachable interconnected members, the combination with a cylindrical connective piece having a laterally projecting connector, of an elongated body member having a transverse cylindrical bore within the body and near an end thereof and in which said connective piece is disposed, said bore opening at the sides of lthe body and at the end of .the body, the margins of the end opening comprismg mutually spaced facing lips between which the connector may be passed during axial manipulation of the cylindrical piece in the cylindrical body bore, the said connector being normally oiset laterally from said lips.

GEORGE H. CALVERLEY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 

